Fence Bill HR 6061

[Dixie]

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c ... 109gk4AJh::

Copy of 700 mile fence Bill HR 6061

Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Placed on Calendar in Senate)

HR 6061 PCS


Calendar No. 615

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6061

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 14, 2006
Received and read the first time


September 15, 2006
Read the second time and placed on the calendar


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AN ACT
To establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Secure Fence Act of 2006'.

SEC. 2. ACHIEVING OPERATIONAL CONTROL ON THE BORDER.

(a) In General- Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all actions the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States, to include the following--

(1) systematic surveillance of the international land and maritime borders of the United States through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and

(2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful entry by aliens into the United States and facilitate access to the international land and maritime borders by United States Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.

(b) Operational Control Defined- In this section, the term `operational control' means the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.

(c) Report- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the progress made toward achieving and maintaining operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States in accordance with this section.

SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BORDER AREA FROM PACIFIC OCEAN TO GULF OF MEXICO.

Section 102(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1103 note) is amended--

(1) in the subsection heading by striking `Near San Diego, California'; and

(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

`(1) SECURITY FEATURES-

`(A) REINFORCED FENCING- In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors--

`(i) extending from 10 miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to 10 miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry;

`(ii) extending from 10 miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to 5 miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry;

`(iii) extending from 5 miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to 10 miles east of El Paso, Texas;

`(iv) extending from 5 miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to 5 miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and

`(v) extending 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry.

`(B) PRIORITY AREAS- With respect to the border described--

`(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary shall ensure that an interlocking surveillance camera system is installed along such area by May 30, 2007, and that fence construction is completed by May 30, 2008; and

`(ii) in subparagraph (A)(v), the Secretary shall ensure that fence construction from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry is completed by December 31, 2008.

`(C) EXCEPTION- If the topography of a specific area has an elevation grade that exceeds 10 percent, the Secretary may use other means to secure such area, including the use of surveillance and barrier tools.'.

SEC. 4. NORTHERN BORDER STUDY.

(a) In General- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a study on the feasibility of a state of-the-art infrastructure security system along the northern international land and maritime border of the United States and shall include in the study--

(1) the necessity of implementing such a system;

(2) the feasibility of implementing such a system; and

(3) the economic impact implementing such a system will have along the northern border.

(b) Report- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 5. EVALUATION AND REPORT RELATING TO CUSTOMS AUTHORITY TO STOP CERTAIN FLEEING VEHICLES.

(a) Evaluation- Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall--

(1) evaluate the authority of personnel of United States Customs and Border Protection to stop vehicles that enter the United States illegally and refuse to stop when ordered to do so by such personnel, compare such Customs authority with the authority of the Coast Guard to stop vessels under section 637 of title 14, United States Code, and make an assessment as to whether such Customs authority should be expanded;

(2) review the equipment and technology available to United States Customs and Border Protection personnel to stop vehicles described in paragraph (1) and make an assessment as to whether or not better equipment or technology is available or should be developed; and

(3) evaluate the training provided to United States Customs and Border Protection personnel to stop vehicles described in paragraph (1).

(b) Report- Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains the results of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a).
Passed the House of Representatives September 14, 2006.

Attest:

KAREN L. HAAS,

Clerk.

By Marjorie C. Kelaher,

Deputy Clerk.

Calendar No. 615


109th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6061

AN ACT
To establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.

[Judy]

Wow...there is definitely NOT 700 miles of fencing in this bill.

The only meaningful section is from Laredo to Brownsville...about 250 miles.

Amazing....how could we have missed this?

We can not believe the media. We will have to study each bill or document in the future.

It's still a start but such a baby step.

We need a Wall of Americans. 40,000 ... 20 per mile protecting that mile 24/7/365.

[Jean]

`(ii) extending from 10 miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to 5 miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry;

If you look on a map 10 mi west of Calexico, CA to 5 mi east of Douglas, AZ, this ia almost the entire state of Arizona!

There was a senator that had a map showing just where the fence would go and it did look like it could be 700 miles, to me anyway.

[Dixie]

I think there is 700 miles of fence, it's just referencing end point to end point and not the length.

For instance, 10 miles east of point A to 10 miles west of point B. It is not stating the distance between the two points. Also, the way this Bill is worded sounds just like what is commonly practiced when writing land deeds.

I'll go see if there is a Map on Thomas. I didn't find one.

The entire border is only 2,800 miles long from ocean to ocean, there is some existing fence, so 700 miles represents a 3rd to a 4th of our southern border that is currently unfenced. Also, they are likely extending from and hooking to existing fence like at border check points in Laredo....

Dixie

[LegalUSCitizen]

This article in the Washington Post tonight says 700 miles too.
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=42784

[Dixie]

Thanks Legal!

This fence is a positive start and it will be complete by May 30, 2008.

Just remember, the fence is not enough and we still have to expell some illegal aliens. Our job will continue beyond that because in the future the US must turn off the magnet, end social benefits, increase enforcement and deal with the anchor babies.

O

[Jean]

Employers are the main magnet!

[LegalUSCitizen]

Yes, Dixie. Anything that would make Senator Mel Martinez stand up for every American citizen, no matter where they came from is an improvement in my opinion !!

Agree, Jean. The employers are next on the list to be enlightened about America's laws !!

[CrocketsGhost]

If anyone has an atlas, you can PLAINLY see that the two stretches mandated in sections (ii) and (iii) add up to almost 600 miles by themselves. Basically, those two stretches cover the entire borders of Arizona and New Mexico with the exception that little tag in the SW corner of NM. Also, the only reason that the entire border of California isn't covered is that it is already fenced along some pretty long stretches. There are also about 200 miles of the Texas border covered, about 20 of them being in the El Paso area, about 50 from Del Rio to Eagle Pass, and over 150 from Laredo to Brownsville. As a matter of fact, it looks to add up to over 700 mi. by my calculations, but perhaps a more accurate atlas than my old Rand McNally version is needed to really nail it down.

It appears to me that folks on this site have gotten so used to bad news that they don't know how to respond to good news. It seems unfortunate, though, that people would post about what distances the described areas do and do not cover without even bothering to look at a map, or to consider that most of the stretches of the US-Mexico border not covered by this legislation already have fencing or for some other reason do not immediately require fencing. If this fence is built as specified, the entire border is, for all intents and purposes, sealed. That may be a big "if," but for now the reality is that Congress has at least fulfilled the request for a physical barrier.

Now let's work on preventing Mexicans who come through the official ports of entry from overstaying their welcome and giving those millions of illegals already here the impetus to go back where they came from by removing all incentive for them to remain.

[Judy]

Oh thank goodness. I figured that out for the Laredo to Brownsville leg from the map which is about 250 miles.